EP0712479B1 - Arrangement for cooling supply air in an air-conditioning installation - Google Patents

Arrangement for cooling supply air in an air-conditioning installation Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0712479B1
EP0712479B1 EP94922883A EP94922883A EP0712479B1 EP 0712479 B1 EP0712479 B1 EP 0712479B1 EP 94922883 A EP94922883 A EP 94922883A EP 94922883 A EP94922883 A EP 94922883A EP 0712479 B1 EP0712479 B1 EP 0712479B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
exhaust air
heat transfer
heat exchanger
air
cooling
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP94922883A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0712479A1 (en
Inventor
Seppo Kalevi Kanninen
Ingmar Erik Rolin
Seppo Juhani Leskinen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ABB Installaatiot Oy
Original Assignee
ABB Installaatiot Oy
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Publication date
Application filed by ABB Installaatiot Oy filed Critical ABB Installaatiot Oy
Publication of EP0712479A1 publication Critical patent/EP0712479A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0712479B1 publication Critical patent/EP0712479B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F12/00—Use of energy recovery systems in air conditioning, ventilation or screening
    • F24F12/001—Use of energy recovery systems in air conditioning, ventilation or screening with heat-exchange between supplied and exhausted air
    • F24F12/002—Use of energy recovery systems in air conditioning, ventilation or screening with heat-exchange between supplied and exhausted air using an intermediate heat-transfer fluid
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B30/00—Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
    • Y02B30/56—Heat recovery units
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S62/00—Refrigeration
    • Y10S62/22—Free cooling

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an arrangement for cooling supply air in an air-conditioning installation according to the preamble clause of claim 1, as disclosed in WO-A-93/10403.
  • a drawback of the system is its limited cooling power. Especially when exhaust air and/or outdoor air is warm and moist, the cooling power is not sufficient. This is due to the fact that moist air is not able to receive any greater amounts of water steam, and so its saturation temperature is high.
  • evaporative humidifiers are not usually able to humidify air up to the dew point.
  • the humidification ratio has been defined as the mass ratio between the amount of water that in theory can be evaporated into air and the amount of water that actually is evaporated.
  • the humidification ratio of the best evaporative humidifiers ranges between 80 and 90%.
  • the cooling power is reduced by the efficiency of the heat exchanger, which is usually defined as the ratio of the temperature drop of supply air to the difference between the initial temperatures of supply air and exhaust air.
  • This ratio called temperature efficiency, is between 70 and 80% for the best air/air heat exchangers.
  • the ratio between the actually achievable cooling power and the theoretical cooling power usually remains below 70%. Not even the theoretical power would be sufficient in all cases.
  • the 2-step cooling Due to its high investment and operating costs, the 2-step cooling has not been used widely. In order that real benefit could be derived, an extra heat exchanger is needed as well as a blower or the like for drawing the auxiliary air flow through the heat exchanger. Air cooling as such will not give the desired result, as the mass ratios vary. It may be used successfully when the amount of exhaust air is about 2 times greater than the amount of supply air for some special reason. In addition, the cooling power of the second step is substantially lower than that of the first step.
  • humidified heat exchangers as in US-A-5 187 946 (where such heat exchanger is used for cooling supply air from ambient temperature to substantially its dew point) have been built to some extent. In theory, they should operate in such a way that the temperature of a moisture film on the outer surface of the heat exchanger will coincide with the saturation temperature of air.
  • the air treatment process should, in theory, take place as illustrated by an exemplifying curve in the h-x diagram of Figure 1, i.e. in the following way:
  • the temperature of supply air outdoor air is assumed to be 27°C, and the relative humidity 40%, point A in Figure 1.
  • the temperature of exhaust air room air is assumed to be 24°C, and the relative humidity 50%, point B in Figure 1.
  • the surface of the heat exchanger on the exhaust air side should be at its dew point, that is, at a temperature corresponding to a relative humidity of 100%, i.e. 17°C, point C in Figure 1.
  • the temperature of exhaust air would be slightly above the humidification ratio, with a humidification ratio of 0.88, for instance, about 18°C, point C' in Figure 1. The difference is thus 1°C.
  • the plate heat exchanger disclosed in Finnish Patent Specification 57 478 also has another drawback. Bacterial contamination easily occurs on moist surfaces within the above-mentioned temperature range. As plate heat exchangers are large in size, it is difficult to make them water-proof; in practice, minor leakages occur as a result of corrosion, thermal expansion, vibration, pressure variation, etc. Water seeping to the supply air side evaporates, whereby possible bacteria become encapsulated and are entrained in the supply air. The resulting health hazard is so severe that humidified plate heat exchangers have been totally abandoned.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement which enables the theoretical performance values of a heat exchanger to be achieved while avoiding any health hazards.
  • the arrangement according to the invention also allows the supply of additional cooling power from tap water, ground water, or any energy source having a temperature only slightly different from the desired temperature of supply air. Even the cooling power of humidifying water can be utilized, and tap water can be utilized more economically than previously.
  • the invention is based on the fact that as the evaporation surface in the heat exchanger is too small, it should be enlarged. Even though the increase in investment costs would be ignored, it is easy to notice that as the heat surface on both the supply air and the exhaust air side becomes larger, the nature of the heat transfer process will not change, that is, the ratios between the heat flows remain unchanged, and the moisture film is still at a temperature above the dew point. The temperature efficiency, of course, improves.
  • the basic idea of the invention is, in fact, that the ratios between the heat transfer surfaces are changed, that is, the evaporation surface is enlarged, so that one gets closer to the dew-point temperature. When a plate heat exchanger is used, this is difficult and expensive.
  • Another basic concept of the invention is thus that the heat surfaces are separated from each other in a manner known per se by transferring heat on the supply side by a separate heat exchanger into an intermediate liquid and then by another heat exchanger from the intermediate liquid into exhaust air. The ratio between the heat flows can now be selected freely so that one gets close to the dew point on the exhaust side.
  • separate heat exchangers have a third major advantage: separated systems can be built. Exhaust and supply air apparatuses need not be positioned at the same place. In addition, there may be two or more exhaust air apparatuses per a single supply air apparatus, or vice versa, two or more supply air apparatuses may operate together with a single exhaust air apparatus.
  • the invention also allows the air-conditioning apparatuses to be designed more economically, as the front surface speed in the heat exchanger or the humidifying section is not a factor determining the dimensions of the apparatus if the exchangers are positioned as described below. With the exception of the heat exchangers, the apparatus size can be reduced even by 35% with corresponding savings in costs.
  • the arrangement shown in Figure 2 comprises a heat exchanger 1 for supply air A; a heat exchanger 2 for exhaust air B; an interconnecting piping 3, through which a pump 4 circulates heat transfer liquid; and a humidifying piping 5, from which humidifying water is allowed to run through a humidifying mat 6 onto heat transfer surfaces of the heat exchanger 2 on the exhaust side.
  • humidifying water is not circulated, but a constant amount of water is taken from a tap water piping 7, and "excessive" humidifying water that does not evaporate into exhaust air is discharged through an overflow pipe 8 into a drain.
  • only a limited, usually constant amount of humidifying water is admitted into the drain, which prevents the concentration of impurities, bacteria, etc. The rest is returned to the humidifying step by a special circulation pump. In this way, less humidifying water is needed.
  • FIG. 3 shows a more advanced arrangement.
  • the heat exchanger for supply air is divided into two sections 1' and 1", of which section 1' serves a building portion exposed to a heavy thermal load, such as its south side, while section 1" serves the less heavily loaded portion of the building.
  • a heat exchanger 9 intended for humidifying water and tap water is positioned in a supply pipe 3' of the heat exchanger 1' serving the more heavily loaded building portion. In this way, the entire cooling power can be directed to the building portion where it is needed.
  • the solution of Figure 3 also decreases the demand of thermal energy significantly.
  • Tap water can be pre-heated approximately from 8°C to 25°C, i.e. the saving is about 35% of the water heating costs, although only during the peak load.
  • a temperature of about 20°C is achieved, which corresponds to a saving of about 25%, that is, a saving of about 6% in yearly costs as calculated on the yearly consumption.
  • Figure 3 also shows another way of decreasing the surface temperature of the heat exchanger for exhaust air.
  • a nozzle piping 11 water is sprayed into the air as very small droplets, which increase the heat transfer surface considerably, and reduce the air temperature and the surface temperature at the terminal end of a counter-flow battery, which, in fact, is desirable.
  • the nozzle piping 11 may be positioned relatively close to the heat exchanger 2, because the finely divided water spray hovers relatively deep into the heat exchanger 2 between its heat transfer surfaces before the water droplets evaporate or come into contact with the heat transfer surfaces.
  • the change of state of air shifts very close to the theoretical change of state B-C' in Figure 1, and the temperature of the water returning through the pump 4 shifts close to the theoretical value, i.e. the dew-point temperature of air.
  • the basic concept i.e. the separation of the heat transfer surfaces from each other, also allows the air-conditioning apparatuses to be designed more economically than previously. This is especially important when the supply and exhaust air flows are unequal in size.
  • Each apparatus can be designed for its specific air flow, which is not possible e.g. in the solution disclosed in Finnish Patent Specification 57 478, where both apparatuses are designed according to the larger air flow.
  • Figures 4 and 5 show preferred ways of positioning the heat exchanger 2 in a housing 12 of the air-conditioning apparatus.
  • the basic idea is to mount the heat exchanger 2 in such a position that its front surface can be enlarged. This is because the front surface speed of the heat exchanger limits the selection of apparatus size due to both the great pressure loss of the exchanger and the fact that when the front surface speed of air exceeds 2.5 m/s, drops are entrained in the air flow.
  • the heat exchanger can now be designed for a front surface speed less than 2.5 m/s, and the other components for the speed of 4 m/s determined mainly by the filters, whereby their costs are reduced in proportion to the speeds, that is, even 35%.
  • Figures 4 and 5 are mere examples.
  • the directions of flow of air and liquids, the positioning of the components, etc. may naturally vary as well as the angles of the heat exchangers, the flows can be evened out and pressure losses reduced by baffle plates, etc.
  • the humidifying mat 6 is positioned on the front surface of the heat exchanger 2 in the duct 12 for exhaust air in such a way that the air flows through the mat 6.
  • the heat transfer surfaces will be humidified more reliably and evenly, and the temperature distribution will be more advantageous.
  • additional evaporation surface will be obtained "for nothing", so that the effect is similar to that of the spraying means 11.
  • the material of the humidifying mat 6 is selected suitably, it also filters solid particles from the air sufficiently efficiently. It is thereby possible in the summertime to remove the exhaust air filters protecting the heat surfaces of the heat exchanger 2 from impurities, and mount the humidifying mat 6 in place. In this way the filter costs can be reduced, and the pressure loss of the exhaust system can be diminished, i.e. the consumption of electricity is decreased with resulting savings in costs.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Central Air Conditioning (AREA)
  • Air-Conditioning For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Air Filters, Heat-Exchange Apparatuses, And Housings Of Air-Conditioning Units (AREA)
  • Air Humidification (AREA)
  • Sorption Type Refrigeration Machines (AREA)
  • Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)
  • Duct Arrangements (AREA)
  • Devices For Blowing Cold Air, Devices For Blowing Warm Air, And Means For Preventing Water Condensation In Air Conditioning Units (AREA)
  • Other Air-Conditioning Systems (AREA)
EP94922883A 1993-08-10 1994-08-09 Arrangement for cooling supply air in an air-conditioning installation Expired - Lifetime EP0712479B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI933534 1993-08-10
FI933534A FI96797C (sv) 1993-08-10 1993-08-10 System för kylning av tilluften i en luftkonditioneringsanläggning
PCT/FI1994/000342 WO1995004902A1 (en) 1993-08-10 1994-08-09 Arrangement for cooling supply air in an air-conditioning installation

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0712479A1 EP0712479A1 (en) 1996-05-22
EP0712479B1 true EP0712479B1 (en) 1999-11-17

Family

ID=8538401

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94922883A Expired - Lifetime EP0712479B1 (en) 1993-08-10 1994-08-09 Arrangement for cooling supply air in an air-conditioning installation

Country Status (15)

Country Link
US (1) US5931017A (sv)
EP (1) EP0712479B1 (sv)
JP (1) JPH09501227A (sv)
AT (1) ATE186771T1 (sv)
AU (1) AU7264294A (sv)
BG (1) BG100347A (sv)
CA (1) CA2169073A1 (sv)
CZ (1) CZ289257B6 (sv)
DE (1) DE69421706T2 (sv)
DK (1) DK0712479T3 (sv)
FI (1) FI96797C (sv)
NO (1) NO307761B1 (sv)
RU (1) RU2125209C1 (sv)
SK (1) SK17196A3 (sv)
WO (1) WO1995004902A1 (sv)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113108386A (zh) * 2021-04-30 2021-07-13 西藏宁算科技集团有限公司 湿膜加湿的空调机组

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FI102319B1 (sv) * 1995-09-22 1998-11-13 Abb Installaatiot Oy Förfarande och anordning i värmeåtervinning
FI102320B (sv) * 1995-10-26 1998-11-13 Abb Installaatiot Oy Förfarande och anordning för värmeöverföring
SE9600246D0 (sv) * 1996-01-23 1996-01-23 Bolivian Investment Co Ltd Avskiljning av mikroorganismer från ventilation värmeväxlare med evaporativ kyla
US7624788B2 (en) * 2004-04-22 2009-12-01 State Of Oregon Acting By And Through The State Board Of Higher Education On Behalf Of The University Of Oregon Heat exchanger
US7207182B1 (en) * 2004-12-28 2007-04-24 Schoonover Dale K Swamp cooler cooling system
US7497252B2 (en) * 2006-01-24 2009-03-03 John Yenkai Pun Active fluid and air heat exchanger and method
AU2009237550A1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2009-10-22 Jarrell Wenger Evaporative cooling tower enhancement through cooling recovery
CN107030930B (zh) * 2017-04-21 2019-08-30 四川联衡能源发展有限公司 一种换热系统等压变风量装置及其方法
US10930949B2 (en) * 2018-10-05 2021-02-23 Ess Tech, Inc. Power delivery system and method

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3808832A (en) * 1971-04-07 1974-05-07 L Zusmanovich Air conditioning installation
SE383777B (sv) * 1973-07-18 1976-03-29 Munters Ab Carl Sett och anordning for kylning av luft
SE8300088L (sv) * 1983-01-11 1984-07-12 Tadeusz Gacia Anordning for axiell och tangentiell fastspenning av ett foremal pa en axel
FI67259C (sv) * 1983-03-21 1990-09-17 Ilmateollisuus Oy Ventilationssystem.
US4938035A (en) * 1987-10-20 1990-07-03 Khanh Dinh Regenerative fresh-air air conditioning system and method
NZ233192A (en) * 1989-04-19 1992-05-26 John Francis Urch Counterflow heat exchanger with a serpentine flow path
FI88431C (sv) * 1989-08-22 1993-05-10 Ilmateollisuus Oy Förfarande och kylarrangemang för avkylning av en byggnad
FI88650C (sv) * 1991-04-09 1993-06-10 Halton Oy Förfarande vid reglering av en luftkonditioneringsanläggning och en lu ftkonditioneringsanläggning enligt detta förfarande
US5461877A (en) * 1991-05-24 1995-10-31 Luminis Pty Ltd. Air conditioning for humid climates
US5187946A (en) * 1991-09-24 1993-02-23 Yefim Rotenberg Apparatus & Method for indirect evaporative cooling of a fluid
FI92867C (sv) * 1991-11-22 1997-07-08 Suomen Puhallintehdas Oy Luftkonditioneringsapparat för rumsutrymmen

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113108386A (zh) * 2021-04-30 2021-07-13 西藏宁算科技集团有限公司 湿膜加湿的空调机组

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK0712479T3 (da) 2000-03-13
FI96797C (sv) 1999-01-19
NO960536D0 (no) 1996-02-09
SK17196A3 (en) 1997-02-05
EP0712479A1 (en) 1996-05-22
NO307761B1 (no) 2000-05-22
FI933534A0 (sv) 1993-08-10
NO960536L (no) 1996-02-09
JPH09501227A (ja) 1997-02-04
CA2169073A1 (en) 1995-02-16
WO1995004902A1 (en) 1995-02-16
CZ31796A3 (en) 1996-07-17
FI933534A (sv) 1995-02-11
DE69421706T2 (de) 2000-04-27
AU7264294A (en) 1995-02-28
CZ289257B6 (cs) 2001-12-12
BG100347A (bg) 1997-02-28
DE69421706D1 (de) 1999-12-23
FI96797B (sv) 1996-05-15
ATE186771T1 (de) 1999-12-15
RU2125209C1 (ru) 1999-01-20
US5931017A (en) 1999-08-03

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